Short Summary

THE SOVIET UNION TODAY (TUESDAY) WARNED THERE COULD BE NO GENERAL DISARMAMENT UNTIL THE UNITED STATES ACCEPTED THE PRINCIPLE THAT ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS SHOULD BE DESTROYED.

Description

1.
GV PALAIS DE NATIONS
0.05

2.
SV MR. TSARAPKIN (USSR) ARRIVES
0.13

3.
SV MR. MASON (GB) ARRIVES
0.19

4.
SV MR. FOSTER ARRIVES
0.27

5.
CU CAMERAMAN
0.30

6.
SV ITALIAN DELEGATION ARRIVES
0.36

7.
GV PALAIS DE NATIONS.
0.47

Initials AA"S"RM/JG AA/S/RM/EEH

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE SOVIET UNION TODAY (TUESDAY) WARNED THERE COULD BE NO GENERAL DISARMAMENT UNTIL THE UNITED STATES ACCEPTED THE PRINCIPLE THAT ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS SHOULD BE DESTROYED.

THE SOVIET CHIEF DELEGATE AT THE 17-NATION DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE IN GENEVA, MR. TSARAPKIN, TOLD REPORTERS AFTER TODAY'S SESSION THAT "WE WOULD BE READY TO SIT DOWN WITH THE AMERICANS IMMEDIATELY -- TODAY IF NECESSARY -- TO WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT IF THEY FIRST ACCEPT THE FIRST STAGE OF DISARMAMENT -- THE PRINCIPLE OF ELIMINATING ALL NUCLEAR VEHICLES."
HE ALSO CRITICISED PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S RECENT PROPOSAL FOR A CONTROLLED LIMITATION OF THE NUMBERS AND TYPES OF STRATEGIC NUCLEAR MISSILES BECAUSE THIS WOULD LEAVE PRODUCTION OF MEDIUM AND INTERMEDIATE RANGE MISSILES UNTOUCHED.

THE ITALIAN DELEGATE, SIGNOR FRANCESCO CAVALLETTI SAID AT TODAY'S SESSION THAT THE WEST'S NUCLEAR SHIELD IN EUROPE WOULD DISAPPEAR UNDER THE SOVIET DISARMAMENT PROPOSALS THAT A LIMITED NUMBER OF NUCLEAR SHIELD IN EUROPE WOULD DISAPPEAR UNDER THE SOVIET DISARMAMENT PROPOSALS THAT A LIMITED NUMBER OF NUCLEAR MISSILES BE RETAINED ON SOVIET AND UNITED STATES SOIL ONLY UNTIL THE THIRD AND FINAL STAGE OF A GENERAL DISARMAMENT PLAN.

AN AMERICAN DELEGATIONS SPOKESMAN DESCRIBED MR. TSARAPKIN'S REMARKS AS "NOTHING NEW."
"WE HAVE HEARD ALL THAT BEFORE," HE SAID. "THE RUSSIANS WILL HAVE TO PRODUCE MORE FACTS AND CLARIFY THEIR PROPOSALS PROPERLY BEFORE WE CAN GET ANY FURTHER."